MANILA – The House prosecution on Monday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has reason to be alarmed over the PHP319 million in Chinese remittances to a company linked to Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, warning of serious national security implications if the funds were proven to have been used to finance her political activities.
House impeachment adviser and trial spokesperson Ace Barbers said the transactions warranted a thorough investigation, particularly amid concerns about possible foreign influence involving the country’s second-highest official.
“Talagang very alarming kasi dahil merong national security implications ’yan (It really is alarming because it has national security implications),” Barbers said at a press briefing during Day 38 of Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Barbers was responding to the President’s remarks over the weekend expressing concern over allegations that funds from China may have reached the Vice President through a company linked to her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio.
The President warned that such allegations, if proven, could pose a serious threat to national security at the highest level.
Barbers said investigators must establish whether the remittances received by Cale88 Foods Corp. were ultimately used to support Duterte’s political activities.
“Kung ito’y mapapatunayan sa isang malalimang imbestigasyon, therefore, napaka-alarming at nakakatakot ito. At ito ay may (If this is proven in an in-depth investigation, therefore, it is highly alarming and terrifying. And it has serious) national security implication,” he said.
Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records presented during the impeachment trial showed that Cale88 received PHP319.326 million in inward remittances from mainland China and Hong Kong.
The transactions raised questions about the source and purpose of the funds, although the records presented have not established that the money came from the Chinese government or was personally received by Duterte.
House private prosecutor and spokesperson Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. echoed Barbers’ concerns, saying the allegations could have constitutional implications if supported by evidence.
He emphasized that the Senate impeachment court must ultimately determine whether Duterte committed a culpable violation of the Constitution or betrayed public trust.
Tolosa cited constitutional restrictions on public officials receiving gifts or compensation from foreign governments, saying these could become relevant if investigators established that Duterte received money from a country that had taken aggressive actions against the Philippines.
“Seryoso ba itong paglabag, hindi lang sa Constitution but sa tiwala ng bayan, kung tumanggap talaga siya ng ganitong pera (Is it really a serious violation, not just of the Constitution but of the public trust, if they actually accepted this kind of money) from another country which has taken aggressive actions against us?” he asked.
Tolosa said the central question in the impeachment proceedings remained whether Duterte was fit to continue holding the country’s second-highest office in light of the allegations and evidence presented.
The Chinese remittances are among the financial transactions raised during the prosecution’s presentation of evidence under Article II of Duterte’s impeachment complaint, which involves allegations of unexplained wealth and violations of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth disclosure requirements. (PNA)
House impeachment adviser and trial spokesperson Ace Barbers
